While everyone has been busy applauding and congratulating Gareth Bale on his world record transfer, a mega-move that he’s been dreaming about his entire life, you can count on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to try and bring Bale back down to earth with a thud.

“No footballer is worth paying that amount of money for,” Ibrahimovic said. “There is a lot of pressure on him.”

But the Paris Saint-Germain striker wasn’t finished.

“I know that when Zinedine Zidane played for Madrid, the fans were whistling against him,” Ibrahimovic continued. “If they can whistle against Zidane, for me one of the best players in history, I hope Bale has a lot of patience.”

You may be asking exactly what Ibra is trying to achieve by making these comments?

Well, he is one of the most transferred players in today’s game and has been bought and sold for astronomical fees over the years. Clubs likes Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have all paid huge fees for the services of the towering Swedish forward. So, even though the comments from the 31-year-old PSG striker seem slightly harsh, he has a better sense than most at what pressures come with making a big move to one of world soccer’s greatest teams.

Clubs have spent over $190 million on Ibrahimovic throughout his glittering career and the biggest transfer of all, his switch from Inter Milan to Barcelona in 2009, did not got well. Still the third largest transfer fee in world history, Zlatan switched the San Siro for the Camp Nou in an $84 million deal. But his stay in Catalan lasted for just one year after the big money move went wrong.

A warning to Bale perhaps? Eh, maybe.

But there is a reason why Ibrahimovic keeps hopping from club-to-club; he’s a volatile character who openly shares his opinions and as a result if things aren’t going his way then the situation goes downhill rapidly. Yet Welsh international Bale has a completely different attitude and outlook, much more positive and team-orientated, I know that for a fact.

However the former Tottenham Hotspur star will be getting plenty of advice from every single person he meets right now. So Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joined the queue.

And even though many will scoff at the negativity of Zlatan’s comments, Bale shouldn’t dismiss them altogether. The 24-year-old Welshman should learn from Ibra’s mistakes because the wise old Swede has experience on his side, no matter if you agree or disagree with how he’s conducted himself in the past. That and he’s one of the best strikers in the world, scoring 30 goals in 34 league games for PSG last season as they won the French title.

The pressure at Real will be something entirely new to Bale, but he probably knew that already. Thanks anyway, Ibra.

The suffering Swans have had their share of poor performances this season — Clement later said January transfer spending “is a must” if the club wants to stay up — but he’s throwing his hands up in the air when it comes to Wednesday’s loss at the Liberty Stadium.

“At times it was horrible to be on the sideline watching that, seeing my side trying but suffering for long periods. They’re not the games that will decide our season but it was hard to watch at times because they were so dominant. For me, one of the best sides I’ve ever come across. So many good athletes, so many intelligent footballers and it’s really hard to pin them down. We actually had some attempts on their goal so I’m disappointed we didn’t get on the score sheet but they were a far superior side to us. We’ve got to put it aside that game. We’ve got Everton away (next) and we’ve got to try and pick something up there.”

All that’s left is for Clement to pick up a clarinet, awkwardly blow into it, then point at Pep Guardiola and say, “He’s good.”

United didn’t have it’s A-game, but that was okay thanks to fine defensive play from star backstop David De Gea and some gutsy tackles from Phil Jones. The goal came when Juan Mata‘s cross was nodded home by Romelu Lukaku in the 25th minute, and United rode that marker for all it was worth to stay three points ahead of third place Chelsea.

How good is Man City? Pep Guardiola‘s bunch have now won a Premier League record 15-straight in a single season, and have scored 52 goals while conceding just 11. Markers 49-52 came from David Silva (two), Kevin De Bruyne, and Sergio Aguero. Tottenham is next.

A ball bounded off Ahmed Hegazi’s body, and off Dominic Solanke‘s body and forearm to give Liverpool its presumed breakthrough, but the call was intentional handball. The Reds had myriad chances to score before that, but instead hand a point to the visiting Baggies.

The chances were there for dominant Arsenal, but the winning goal did not materialize at the London Stadium. Marko Arnautovic did everything but score when West Ham did manage the ball, and Javier Hernandez rattled the cage late, but David Moyes men had to settle for a well-earned point.

8 – Eight different clubs have won more points away from home in the Premier League than Arsenal (9) this season – Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Burnley, Watford, Leicester & Spurs. Issue. pic.twitter.com/waUWHXCws6

Spurs are back in the Top Four thanks to a long Serge Aurier cross that fooled Mat Ryan and a Heung-Min Son deflection of a Christian Eriksen offering. Brighton’s just three points away from the drop zone with the loss.

Claude Puel‘s Foxes are flying, scoring goals for fun and encroaching on the Top Four after a horrible start to the Premier League season. Shinji Okazaki bagged his first Premier League brace, while Andy King and Riyad Mahrez also scored for Leicester, who is within five points of fourth and next faces Crystal Palace. Southampton’s goal came from Maya Yoshida.

1 – This is the first time that two Japanese players have scored for opposing sides in the history of the Premier League. Answer. https://t.co/HOApDbofnv

Wenger was content enough with the result, as he continued to be in the chorus of managers who lament the congested Premier League schedule around the holidays. From the BBC:

“We had so much of the ball, but it was very frustrating because we could even have lost it at the end. They’re happy to defend, they did that against Chelsea and Manchester City, so we couldn’t find the opening and the few chances we had we missed.

…

“When you play every three days, you lose your sharpness.”

That’s true, and to his credit Wenger didn’t try to say West Ham had one day’s more rest (which they did). As Man City runs away with the league and Manchester United doesn’t look fit to drop back to the back, the race for the final two Top Four spots is as congested as the schedule. Arsenal needs to turn some of its shot-heavy performances into goal-heavy cruises sometime soon.